The Theory of Ontic Modalities

Uwe Meixner

Published by De Gruyter 2006

The Theory of Ontic Modalities

Uwe Meixner

Volume 13 in the series Philosophische Analyse / Philosophical Analysis

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110326895

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book presents a comprehensive, non-model-theoretic theory of ontic necessity and possibility within a formal (and formalized) ontology consisting of states of affairs, properties, and individuals. Its central thesis is that all modalities are reducible to intrinsic (or "logical") possibility and necessity if reference is made to certain states of affairs, called "bases of necessity." The viability of this Bases-Theory of Modality is shown also in the case of conditionals, including counterfactual conditionals. Besides the ontological aspects of the philosophy of modality, also the epistemology of modality is treated in the book. It is shown that the Bases-Theory of Modality provides a satisfactory solution to the epistemological problem of modality. In addition to developing that theory, the book includes detailed discussions of positions in the philosophy of modality maintained by Alvin Plantinga, David Lewis, Charles Chihara, Graeme Forbes, David Armstrong, and others. Among the themes treated are: possibilism vs. actualism; the theory of essences; conceivability and possibility; the nature of possible worlds; the nature of logical, nomological, and metaphysical possibility and necessity.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1 The Problem of Ontic Modalities Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
2 Actualism, Modal Realism, and Modal Epistemology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	27
3 An Onto-Nomological Theory of Modality Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	63
4 States of Affairs, Modality, and the Bases-Theory of Necessity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
5 The Theory of Conditionals in the Onto-Nomological Theory of Modality Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	159
6 Other Theories of Conditionals versus the Bases-Theory of Conditionals Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
7 The Onto-Nomological Theory of Modality Extended: Adding Properties and Individuals Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	249
8 Properties, Essences, and Actualism (Again) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	309
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	361
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	365
Backmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	375

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Pages
- Main content: 374
Keywords: Logik; Metaphysik; Ontologie

eBook

Published: May 2, 2013
ISBN: 9783110326895

Hardcover

Published: June 15, 2006
ISBN: 9783110326574